Humidifier assembly



Sept. 25, 1962 Filed May 26. 1958 W. FELDERMANN HUMIDIFIER' ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W11 ll Ffl PEP/VI/V/V Mi; amma K ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1962 Filed May 26. 1958 FIG. 3

w. FELDERMANN 3,055,645

HUMIDIFIER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II/w United States PatentO 3,055,645 HUMIDIFIER ASSEMBLY William Feldermann, South Orange, N.J.; Florence Barbara Feldermann and John Bruce Feldermann, executors of said William Feldermann, deceased Filed May 26, 1958, Ser. No. 737,790 3 Claims. (Cl. 261-28) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved humidifier assembly capable of use in numerous different associations, but primarily adapted for employment with a heat exchange apparatus such as a hot air furnace.

In that association it will serve to entrain within the air heated and distributed by the furnace a suitable amount of moisture, thereby maintaining the humidity content in a desirable and improved manner.

A further object is that of providing an improved assembly which may readily be applied to an existing heating or cooling system with minimum modification of the latter and with no impairment to its primary functions.

Still another object is that of designing an apparatus of this nature which will include relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction and which parts may readily be combined to furnish a humidifier assembly of primary utility in the associations aforeoutlined and which will operate over long periods of time with freedom from all difiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view of a heat exchange apparatus, showing the present assembly in association therewith;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the main parts of the humidifier, illustrating them in separated condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view in somewhat enlarged scale, showing the complete assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of certain of the details of the assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 5-55 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 2; an

FIlgICg. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus as illustrated in Referring primarily to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 indicates a heat exchange apparatus such as a furnace. It will, of course, be understood that a cooling mechanism could be substituted for this member, although the assembly will ordinarily be combined with a furnace. In accordance with conventional construction, a duct 11 supplies air to unit 10. To assure a proper flow through this duct, an air impeller of a motor-driven type is disposed within a casing 12 which is interposed in the duct system. Therefore, air is drawn toward the furnace. Preferably in advance of the air impeller, duct '11 is provided with an opening in its face and which is covered by a mounting plate 13 serving to support a humidifier assembly generally indicated at 14. Having in mind that this assembly may require periodic adjustment, an access door or panel 15 is furnished in advance of assembly 14. The air discharged by furnace 10 or its equivalent passes into a receiving duct 16.

Referring to the preferred embodiment of the humidifier assembly for use in the present system, attention is directed to FIGS. 2 and 3. In those views the numeral 17 indicates a tank, to which a cover section 18 is applied. This section conveniently terminates in a rim 19. The atomizing unit preferably includes supporting legs 20 mounting a pan 21 having its upper side wall edge terminating in a flange 22. This pan extends concentrically Patented Sept. 25, 1962 around the casing 23 of a motor. That motor serves to drive a water-elevating structure in the form of a hollow tube 25 the lower end of which bears within the body of water in tank 17. This tube is furnished with suitable outlet openings 26 at a point adjacent its upper end. In line with this plane the tube has extending from it the body of a water-distributing disk 27. Surrounding the edge of the latter is a water-subdividing unit preferably in the form of an annular comb 28. This comb is below the upper edge of pan 21 and is spaced inwardly from the face of the latter.

The legs 20 of the atomizing unit rest upon a suitable surface of tank 17. These legs are continued in the form of a supporting structure terminating conveniently in brackets 29, which are attached to the motor casing 23. In this manner the atomizing unit is properly maintained with respect to the tank. The latter is preferably furnished with a valve-controlled inlet fitting 30, the functioning of which is governed by a float to maintain a proper depth of water within the tank. To prevent too great an accumulation of Water, an overflow opening or fitting 31 also preferably forms a part of the tank. A side Wall of cover 18 is interrupted to furnish an opening 32. The effective area of this opening is adjusted by a damper 33 in the form of an arcuate strip carrying an actuating knob 34 guiding against the outer surface of cover 18 and provided with a guide pin 35 hearing against the inner surface of that cover. The curvature of strip 33 being preferably a segment of a circle equal in diameter to that defined by cover 18, it follows that by shifting damper 33, the area of opening 32 may be increased or decreased at the will of the operator. Preferably at the end edge of that opening, the cover is furnished with a notch 36 which receives and retains a power cable 37 connected with the motor within casing 23.

In turn mounted preferably upon the flange 22 of pan 21 is an air-distributing member. This will conveniently take the form of a ring-shaped body 38, which at a point opposed to opening 32 is extended to provide a vane 39. As will be seen, the edge of the latter portion extends materially above flange 22. The space between the inner face of collar 38 and the motor casing 23 defines the outlet of the apparatus; air entering the assembly through opening 32.

As afore brought out, the apparatus is preferably supported by the duct through the intermediary of the plate 13 at a point forward of the air impeller 12. The duct is, of course, furnished with an opening of suflicient area so that the necessary parts of the assembly may extend into its interior. The plate is secured to the duct in any preferred manner. The opening 32 will be disposed to extend in a direction opposed to the air flow through the duct 11. Vane portion 39 will extend toward the heat exchange unit 10. It is intended in the present unit not to employ an air impeller as part of the atomizer. Rather, dependence for proper air flow is placed upon the movement of air caused by the impeller within casing 12. Therefore, according to the effective size of opening 32, as determined by the position of the damper 33, air will flow in proper volume downwardly along the base surface of pan 21, upwardly through the central opening in the base of the latter and to both sides of the annular comb structure 28. Thence it will flow through the outlet back into the interior of the duct, leaving the trailing edge of part 39. The latter will be spaced above the inner duct face, as especially shown in FIG. 3.

As will readily be understood, the humidifier assembly may be installed in the manner indicated and will operate over long periods of time with freedom from all difliculties. When it is desired to vary the volume of humidified air, this may readily be accomplished by simply opening door or panel 15 and adjusting the damper provided by strip 33. That damper will remain free from vibration because of the guide structure furnished by pin 35. Accordingly, no objectionable noises will occur as a consequence of the installation and operation of the humidifier assembly. When it is desired to clean the parts, this may be achieved by simply detaching mounting plate 13 from the duct and dropping the assembly through the opening of the latter. Current-supplying cable 37 will remain housed within the notch 36 and will consequently always assume a proper position, with minimum air leakage occurring past its surfaces.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a duct having a lower surface formed with an opening and means for impelling air through said duct, a humidifier assembly comprising a tank, a cover above the same, a rotary water-elevating and distributing structure supported to extend downwardly from said cover to said tank, a water-subdividing unit encircling said structure and interposed between the same and said cover, an air-distributing member mounted above said cover, an arcuate-shaped vane extending outwardly from said member throughout a portion only of its periphery, said cover being formed with an air-admitting aperture at a zone opposite said vane, means enclosed within said tank and cover for guiding air from said aperture along a path adjacent said water-elevating and distributing structure and past the water-subdividing unit to flow over the surfaces of said air-distributing member and said vane, and means for supporting said assembly to extend through said duct opening with its cover and air-distributing member within said duct, said cover being positioned with said aperture facing in a direction opposed to the air flow through said duct and said vane extending in the direction of such air flow, said vane being positioned on the downstream side of said member with the upstream side of said member being open whereby air flowing through said duct flows about said airdistributing member to intermingle with the moist air flowing from said water-subdividin g unit.

2. In the combination defined in claim 1, a damper slideably supported by said cover and said damper being shiftable to extend across the aperture in said cover to diminish the area through which air may enter said assembly.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said duct is formed with another opening affording access to said damper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,146 Gosline Mar. 23, 1909 1,656,414 Braemer Jan. 17, 1928 2,022,415 Feldermann Nov. 26, 1935 2,125,581 Pearce Aug. 2, 1938 2,268,540 Andrews Jan, 6, 1942 2,530,195 Giacobello Nov. 14, 1950 2,591,057 Feldermann Apr. 1, 1952 2,694,042 Tapleshay et a1 Nov. 9, 1954 2,766,027 Herr Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,401 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1940 856,676 France Aug. 1, 1940 

